The San Francisco Giants have made a significant roster move, announcing that right-hander Spencer Howard has been designated for assignment. In a corresponding move, fellow righty Landen Roupp has been called up from Triple-A Sacramento to join the big league roster.

Howard, who signed a minor league deal with the Giants last September, had worked his way up to the major league roster just a month ago when his contract was selected. He showcased his versatility by fulfilling various pitching roles, including as a starter, reliever, opener, and bulk pitcher behind an opener.

Despite showing promise, Howard's recent performance took a hit during a challenging outing against the Dodgers, where he surrendered six earned runs over 2 2/3 innings. This rough night caused his earned run average (ERA) to rise to 5.63 over 24 innings. The Giants decided to remove Howard from the roster in order to bring a fresher arm, Roupp, back to the majors.

Unfortunately, Howard's lackluster results prompted this move. With limited minor league options, the Giants were left with no choice but to designate him for assignment in an attempt to potentially send him down to Triple-A.

The designation for assignment (DFA) adds to the twists and turns in Howard's career. The once highly regarded top-100 prospect was chosen as a second-round pick by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 2017 draft. However, he was sent to the Texas Rangers as part of a six-player trade during the 2021 deadline. Since then, Howard has struggled to find his footing against Major League batters.

His overall career performance has been underwhelming, boasting a 6.93 ERA over 139 innings with the Phillies, Rangers, and Giants. Even the transition from starting to relief pitching has not garnered significant improvement in his results.

Despite his struggles, Howard's past prospect pedigree may attract interest from other teams. As he approaches his 28th birthday, there is a possibility that another team might put in a waiver claim to see if there is any potential for a late bloomer in Howard's career.

With the Giants focusing on strengthening their bullpen and maintaining their competitiveness, the decision to designate Howard for assignment is part of their ongoing efforts to optimize their roster and bring in fresh talent. Only time will tell where Howard's baseball journey takes him next.